What is the trigger for the hydrogen evolution reaction? - towards electrocatalysis beyond the Sabatier principle.

The mechanism of the hydrogen evolution reaction, although intensively studied for more than a century, remains a fundamental scientific challenge. Many important questions are still open, making it elusive to establish rational principles for electrocatalyst design. In this work, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to identify which dynamic phenomena at the electrified interface are prerequisite for the formation of molecular hydrogen. In fact, what we observe as an onset of the macroscopic faradaic current originates from dynamic structural changes in the double layer, which are entropic in nature. Based on careful analysis of the activation process, an electrocatalytic descriptor is introduced, evaluated and experimentally confirmed. The catalytic activity descriptor is named as the potential of minimum entropy. The experimentally verified catalytic descriptor reveals significant potential to yield innovative insights for the design of catalytically active materials and interfaces.

Carbon Monoxide as a Promoter of Atomically Dispersed Platinum Catalyst in Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Carbon monoxide is widely known to poison Pt during heterogeneous catalysis owing to its strong donor-acceptor binding ability. Herein, we report a counterintuitive phenomenon of this general paradigm when the size of Pt decreases to an atomic level, namely, the CO-promoting Pt electrocatalysis toward hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). Compared to pristine atomic Pt catalyst, reduction current on a CO-modified catalyst increases significantly. Operando mass spectroscopy and electrochemical analyses demonstrate that the increased current arises due to enhanced H2 evolution, not additional CO reduction. Through structural identification of catalytic sites and computational analysis, we conclude that CO-ligation on the atomic Pt facilitates Hads formation via water dissociation. This counterintuitive effect exemplifies the fully distinct characteristics of atomic Pt catalysts from those of bulk Pt, and offers new insights for tuning the activity of similar classes of catalysts.

Balanced work function as a driver for facile hydrogen evolution reaction - comprehension and experimental assessment of interfacial catalytic descriptor.

A major step in the development of (electro)catalysis would be the possibility to estimate accurately the energetics of adsorption processes related to reaction intermediates. Computational chemistry (e.g. using DFT) developed significantly in that direction and allowed the fast prediction of (electro)catalytic activity trends and improved the general understanding of adsorption at electrochemical interfaces. However, building a reliable and comprehensive picture of electrocatalytic reactions undoubtedly requires experimental assessment of adsorption energies. In this way, the results obtained by computational chemistry can be complemented or challenged, which often is a necessary pathway to further advance the understanding of electrochemical interfaces. In this work an interfacial descriptor of the electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction, analogue to the adsorption energy of the Had intermediate, is identified experimentally using in situ probing of the surface potentials of the metals, under conditions of continuous control of the humidity and the gas exposure. The derived activity trends give clear indication that the electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction is a consequence of an interplay between metal-hydrogen and metal-water interactions. In other words it is shown that the M-H bond formation strongly depends on the nature of the metal-water interaction. In fact, it seems that water dipoles at the metal/electrolyte interface play a critical role for electron and proton transfer in the double layer.

On the faradaic selectivity and the role of surface inhomogeneity during the chlorine evolution reaction on ternary Ti-Ru-Ir mixed metal oxide electrocatalysts.

The faradaic selectivity of the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the industrially important Ti-Ru-Ir mixed metal oxide is discussed. Absolute evolution rates as well as volume fractions of Cl2 and O2 were quantified using differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), while the catalyst surface redox behavior was analyzed using cyclic voltammetry. The spatial inhomogeneity of the surface catalytic reaction rate was probed using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM). Although the nature of the competition between electrochemical discharging of chloride ions and water molecules remains elusive on a molecular scale, new insights into the spatial reactivity distribution of the CER and OER were obtained. Oxidation of water is the initial step in corrosion and concomitant deactivation of the oxide electrodes; however, at the same time the nature of interaction between the oxide surface and water is used as a rational indicator of selectivity and catalytic activity. An experimental procedure was established that would allow the study of selectivity of a variety of different catalyst materials using polycrystalline electrode surfaces.

Oxygen electrochemistry as a cornerstone for sustainable energy conversion.

Electrochemistry will play a vital role in creating sustainable energy solutions in the future, particularly for the conversion and storage of electrical into chemical energy in electrolysis cells, and the reverse conversion and utilization of the stored energy in galvanic cells. The common challenge in both processes is the development of-preferably abundant-nanostructured materials that can catalyze the electrochemical reactions of interest with a high rate over a sufficiently long period of time. An overall understanding of the related processes and mechanisms occurring under the operation conditions is a necessity for the rational design of materials that meet these requirements. A promising strategy to develop such an understanding is the investigation of the impact of material properties on reaction activity/selectivity and on catalyst stability under the conditions of operation, as well as the application of complementary in situ techniques for the investigation of catalyst structure and composition.

Microstructural impact of anodic coatings on the electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction.

Sol-gel Ru(0.3)Sn(0.7)O(2) electrode coatings with crack-free and mud-crack surface morphology deposited onto a Ti-substrate are prepared for a comparative investigation of the microstructural effect on the electrochemical activity for Cl(2) production and the Cl(2) bubble evolution behaviour. For comparison, a state-of-the-art mud-crack commercial Ru(0.3)Ti(0.7)O(2) coating is used. The compact coating is potentially durable over a long term compared to the mud-crack coating due to the reduced penetration of the electrolyte. Ti L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms that a TiO(x) interlayer is formed between the mud-crack Ru(0.3)Sn(0.7)O(2) coating and the underlying Ti-substrate due to the attack of the electrolyte. Meanwhile, the compact coating shows enhanced activity in comparison to the commercial coating, benefiting from the nanoparticle-nanoporosity architecture. The dependence of the overall electrode polarization behaviour on the local activity and the bubble evolution behaviour for the Ru(0.3)Sn(0.7)O(2) coatings with different surface microstructure are evaluated by means of scanning electrochemical microscopy and microscopic bubble imaging.

Visualization of chlorine evolution at dimensionally stable anodes by means of scanning electrochemical microscopy.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been used to detect and visualize the local electrocatalytic activity of dimensionally stable anodes (DSA) for Cl(2) evolution from brine. The sample generation-tip collection (SG-TC) mode of SECM shows limitations arising from complications connected with the reduction of Cl(2) at the SECM tip due to the presence of a significant amount of nondissolved Cl(2) gas. Because only dissolved Cl(2) can be electrochemically reduced at the tip, a large amount of the Cl(2) gas which is produced at active spots of the DSA is not detected. Additionally, a decrease of the cathodic current at the tip may occur owing to the adhesion of gas bubbles and blocking of the electrode surface. To overcome this limitation, the redox competition mode of SECM was extended and applied to the local visualization of Cl(2) evolution from highly concentrated brine solutions. High concentrations of Cl(2) produced at the sample can cause inhibition of the same reaction at the tip by accumulation of Cl(2) in the proximity of the SECM tip. In this way the tip current is decreased, which can be used as a measure for the catalytic activity of the sample underneath the tip.

Frequent Pitfalls in the Characterization of Electrodes Designed for Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage.

Focus on the importance of energy conversion and storage boosted research interest in various electrocatalytic materials. Characterization of solid-liquid interfaces during faradaic and non-faradaic processes is routinely conducted in many laboratories worldwide on a daily basis. This can be deemed as a very positive tendency. However, careful insight into modern literature suggests frequent misuse of electroanalytical tools. This can have very negative implications and postpone overall development of electrocatalytic materials with the desired properties. This work points out some of the frequent pitfalls in electrochemical characterization, suggests potential solutions, and above all encourages comprehensive analysis and in-depth thinking about electrochemical phenomena.

Dissolution of Platinum in the Operational Range of Fuel Cells.

One of the most important practical issues in low-temperature fuel-cell catalyst degradation is platinum dissolution. According to the literature, it initiates at 0.6-0.9 VRHE, whereas previous time- and potential-resolved inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) experiments, however, revealed dissolution onset at only 1.05 VRHE. In this manuscript, the apparent discrepancy is addressed by investigating bulk and nanoparticulated catalysts. It is shown that, given enough time for accumulation, traces of platinum can be detected at potentials as low as 0.85 VRHE. At these low potentials, anodic dissolution is the dominant process, whereas, at more positive potentials, more platinum dissolves during the oxide reduction after accumulation. Interestingly, the potential and time dissolution dependence is similar for both types of electrode. Dissolution processes are discussed with relevance to fuel-cell operation and plausible dissolution mechanisms are considered.

Coupling of a scanning flow cell with online electrochemical mass spectrometry for screening of reaction selectivity.

In this work the online coupling of a miniaturized electrochemical scanning flow cell (SFC) to a mass spectrometer is introduced. The system is designed for the determination of reaction products in dependence of the applied potential and/or current regime as well as fast and automated change of the sample. The reaction products evaporate through a hydrophobic PTFE membrane into a small vacuum probe, which is positioned only 50-100 µm away from the electrode surface. The probe is implemented into the SFC and directly connected to the mass spectrometer. This unique configuration enables fast parameter screening for complex electrochemical reactions, including investigation of operation conditions, composition of electrolyte, and material composition. The technical developments of the system are validated by initial measurements of hydrogen evolution during water electrolysis and electrochemical reduction of CO2 to various products, showcasing the high potential for systematic combinatorial screening by this approach.

Evaluation of the catalytic performance of gas-evolving electrodes using local electrochemical noise measurements.

Characterization of gas evolution reactions at the electrode/electrolyte boundary is often difficult due to the dynamic behavior of interfacial processes. Electrochemical noise measurements determined by scanning electrochemical microscopy were used to characterize Cl(2) evolution at gas-evolving electrodes (GEEs). Analysis of the electrochemical noise is a powerful method to evaluate the efficiency of the catalyst layer at a GEE. The high sensitivity of the developed measurement system enabled accurate monitoring of the current fluctuations caused by gas-bubble detachment from the electrode surface. Fourier transform analysis of the obtained current responses allows extraction of the characteristic frequency, which is the main parameter of the macrokinetics of GEEs. The characteristic frequency was used as part of a methodology to evaluate the catalyst performance and, in particular, to estimate the fraction of the catalyst layer that is active during the gas evolution reaction.

Role of water in the chlorine evolution reaction at RuO(2)-based electrodes--understanding electrocatalysis as a resonance phenomenon.

The reaction path of the Cl(2) evolution reaction (CER) was investigated by combining electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. It is shown that oxidation and reconstruction of the catalyst surface during CER is a consequence of the interaction between RuO(2) and water. The state of the RuO(2) surface during the electrochemical reaction was analyzed in situ by using Raman spectroscopy to monitor vibrations of the crystal lattice of RuO(2) and changes in the surface concentration of the adsorbed species as a function of the electrode potential. The role of the solvent was recognized as being crucial in the formation of an oxygen-containing hydrophilic layer, which is a key prerequisite for electrocatalytic Cl(2) formation. Water (more precisely the OH adlayer) is understood not just as a medium that allows adsorption of intermediates, but also as an integral part of the intermediate formed during the electrochemical reaction. New insights into the general understanding of electrocatalysis were obtained by utilizing the vibration frequencies of the crystal lattice as a dynamic catalytic descriptor instead of thermodynamic descriptors, such as the adsorption energy of intermediates. Interpretation of the derived "volcano" curve suggests that electrocatalysis is governed by a resonance phenomenon.